Parish Notices Sunday 8th January 2017

The Rector writes ‘A part of church history is the custom of blessing homes at the New Year. A family would hold a short service of prayer to ask God’s blessing on their dwellings and on all who live, work with and visit them. In this way, we invite Jesus to be a “guest” in our home, a listener to each conversation, a guide for troubled times, and a blessing in times of thanksgiving.  “Chalking the door” or the door step may be used as a way to celebrate and literally “mark” the occasion.

I was introduced to this special Chalk Blessing by our bishop at the Epiphany Service in the School three years ago and I think it is a lovely way to ‘mark’ the new year.  You’ll find the words of the Blessing overleaf and I’ll hand out some chalk on the way out so that you can bring it home and mark your own lintel.  This morning, at the end of the Service, I will use the chalk to mark the lintel of our own two Churches with the symbols of

      20 + C + M + B + 17 

which symbolises the three Wise Men, (C)  Caspar, (M) Melchior, and (B) Balthasar who followed the star of God’s Son who became human

(20) two thousand and (17)

(21) seventeen years ago’

 

 Special Epiphany Blessing

May all who come to our home this year

rejoice to find Christ living among us;

and may we seek and serve, in everyone we meet,  that same Jesus who is your

incarnate Word,  now and forever.

Amen.

 

 

DIOCESAN MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS for 2017 are due by 31st January. The annual subscription is €25. Please pay Rowland Newenham or the Church Wardens.

CONFIRMATION  If there is anyone you know of in the parish who might still wish to be confirmed, please contact the Rector immediately.  The classes will begin on Saturday 4th February.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

9th Jan            Toddlers plus One 10am

Monday Club 3-5pm Parish Hall

11th Jan            Holy Communion 1030am St Mary’s

Theological Book Circle 8pm Rectory

12th Jan           Friendship Club 11am Rectory

Select Vestry Meeting 8pm Rectory

14th Jan          Youth Club trip to ‘Cork on Ice’ with Templebreedy

18th Jan          Mothers’ Union 8pm Parish Hall

25th Jan       Ecumenical Service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 7.30pm St Mary’s

Preacher : Dr Andrew Pierce, Trinity College

29th Jan         United Service 11am St Mary’s Church

Service of Wholeness & Healing 7pm St John’s

 

Random Notes CCXVII

During the 1970’s and 80’s, the Marino House Estate, between Rushbrooke and    Fota in Cork Harbour, was home to NET Nitrate (later IFI). A flaming torch of gases burnt night and day, and the area doomed over Passage West as an industrial monster. Residents were given warning papers of what to do in the event of an explosion. The factory closed in 2001 and most of the plant was sold and shipped abroad.

Thomas Ronayne leased the 354 acres of the Marino Estate to Mr Savage French in 1755 and later, Marino House became the home of Pascoe Stuart who inherited the estate from his uncle Thomas French. As a condition of his inheritance, Pascoe Stuart assumed the additional surname, French, in 1917. Pascoe Stuart-French captained the Munster inter-provincial cricket team in 1931. Locals recall swimming at a sandy beach by Marino House in the 1930’s and 40’s when Pascoe welcomed them on to his lands on condition that they didn’t hurt his trees! He died on 5th February 1954 at Marino House, aged 85 years.

His son, Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Fitzroy Hamilton Pascoe Stuart-French, born 1903, had very strong British army links. These connections led to local hostility and threatening letters. In the early 1970’s, the estate eventually ended up in the hands of then Taoiseach, Charlie Haughey, who bought and sold it overnight to the Irish State for industrial purposes.

Today, Marino House remains but in a much abandoned state. The ownership of the estate is in the hands of NAMA. Wonderfully however, nature is taking its course. The industrial buildings are collapsing. Trees and shrubs are growing through the concrete.

Let’s hope the next chapter in Marino Point’s story is a positive one.

RCE